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Kennedy: World Cup hairstyles explained

Brazil's Neymar looks on during the group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Brazil's Neymar looks on during the group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Brazil's Neymar looks on during the group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

By Mark Kennedy 4 min read

Have you noticed those high-and-tight hairstyles on display during World Cup? All those buzz-cut sidewalls with a mop of hair on top sculpted like meringue on a tart.

If you are a casual soccer fan, you may not know that FIFA rules mandate that hair parted on the right signifies a predominately right-footed kicker, while hair parted on the left marks a left-footer. Mohawk-style haircuts, meanwhile, designate players who are naturally ambidextrous or, as the British say, “both-footed.”

OK, I think I hear some of you calling bull.

photo Mark Kennedy

You’re right. I made it up.

But the fact that some of you might have bought this hairstyle hogwash for a split second proves a point. Most Americans know little or nothing about the Beautiful Game. And for good reason. The United States (population 325 million) didn’t even make the 32-team World Cup tournament in Moscow. Meanwhile, Iceland (population 334,000) did.